Waste heat boiler



Oct. 18 1932. c. E. LUCKE 1,833,310

' WASTE HEAT BOILER Filed Oct. 10. 1.9 28 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 W was Oct. 18, I932. c. E. LUCKE 1,883,310

WA$TE HEAT BOILER Filed Oct. 10. 1928 4 sheets-sheet 5 9 ATTORNEYS Oct; 18, '1932'. c. E. LUCKE 1,383,310

' WASTE HEAT BOILER Filed Oct. 10, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 18, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GHARLES E. LUCIE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE BABCOCK 8c WILCOX COMPANY, OF BAYONNE, NEW ERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY WASTE HEAT BOILER Application filed October 10, 1928. Serial No. 811,428.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of means introduced in the path of the flow of the gases from the internal combustion engine to the steam boiler for converting a pulsating flow of gases to a substantially steady flow, thereby increasing the capacity and efliciency of the steam boiler.

Other objects of my invention will appear from the specification and will be particularl pointed out in the claims.

y invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which I have illustrated two embodiments thereof, and in which Fig. 1 is a side view of a Diesel engine of multiple cylinders and a steam boiler which is heated by the exhaust gases from the Diesel engines; Fig. 2 is a top view of the Diesel engine cylinders and the exhaust header therefor which are shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical section through a steam boiler and the associated parts for conducting the exhaust gases to and from the boiler; Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3, illustrating a modified form of boiler; Fig. 5 is a 1' sectional view on an enlarged scale illustrating the passages for con ucting exhaust gases to and from the boiler, and the valves controlling the same, and Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings, and first to the embodiments illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, 5, and 6, 10 represents a plurality of internal combustion engine cylinders illustrated as six in number, and 11 illustrates exhaust connections leading from the respective cylinders to a common exhaust pipe or header 12.

Referring to Fig. 3, 13 illustrates asteam boiler, generally, which is oifset from the exhaust pipe 12 and the parts hereinafter referred to which are associated therewith. The boiler is preferably arranged vertically, and is provided with a plurality of tubes 14, the upper and lower ends of which are secured to tube sheets 16 and 17. The outer shell of the boiler is indicated at 19, and the inner shell at 20. A cylindrical space 21 is thus formed within the inner shell of the boiler,-

and which is preferably filled with pieces of divided material 22 which extend down into a chamber 23 having a cylindrical wall 24 and a lower conical wall 25 forming a hopper. The pieces of divided material may be formed of broken refractory material, preferably of substantially uniform size, or may be formed of balls of clay or metal or any other suitable material which is interposed in the path of the flow of gases between the exhaust from the internal combustion engines and the heating surface of the boiler and leaving voids between the pieces for the gas flow.

The exhaust pipe is preferably turned upwardly as at 26, as best shown in Fig. 1, and communicates by a passage 27 leading to the space or chamber 21 in whichthe pieces of divlded material are located. After passing through the voids or spaces between the pieces of divided material, the gases flow upwardly through tubes 14 into a chamber 28 from which a passage 29 leads to the outlet pipe or flue 30, which is preferably a continuation of the exhaust pipe from said en- Preferably, an oil burner 31 is also provided at the upper end of an upward extension 32 above the boiler, and which provides an enlarged combustion space 34 beneath the burner. From the combustion space 34, the gases also How downwardly between the pieces of divided material 22, and upwardly through the fire tubes as do the Diesel engine exhaust gases. The refractory material 36 surrounding the combustion space 34 is-preferably provided with a casing 37 The inner casing 38 for the chamber 28 extends over the lower conical portion of the refractory wall for the combustion space and may be merged with the casing 37, as illustrated in Fig. 3.

Referring particularly to Figs. 5 and 6, 39 and 40 are valve members pivoted at 41 and 42, respectively, and control the flow of gases from the exhaust pipe leading from the in ternal combustion engine or engines to the boiler, and from the boiler to the outlet flue, respectively. Preferably, the valve members 39 and 40 are in the form of plates as illustrated, the outer edges of the valves resting so that any foul'matterixsuch asoil carrie over by the gases will scraped rom the edges 'of the valve members during the closing or opening operation. The'valve members may be operated by handles-45 as illustrated in Fig. 6.

.A chute 46 preferably asses through the upper portion of the wal surrounding the combustion chamber 34, and through which the granular material may be introduced into the combustion chamber, and from which it passes into the space 21 below. The chute 46 is preferably providedwith a ho and with a rotary valve member 48 WhlC permits the pieces of divided material to fall.

throu h the chute by gravity. I I

A c ute 49, similar to the chute 46 (except for the hopper), is also provided at the lower end of the hopper 25 thrgu h which the pieces of divided material may be withdrawn. A drain pipe 50 is preferably provided in the lower portion of the hopper 25 through which any liquid, water or 01]. which may accumulate in the body of the hopper can be drawn ofl.

Preferably, a cover plate 51 is provided in conjunction with the top of the extension 32 in which the oil burner is mounted, so that when the oil' burner is not in operation, it may be withdrawn and the cover seated against the top of the extension member 32 and form a sealed joint therewith, thereb preventing the escape of gases when the boiler is operate by the exhaust gases from the internal combustion engine, and also preventin noise inthe engine room.

he gases from an internal combustion engine, and articularly a Diesel engine issue in the orm of a pufiy or pulsating ow.

Such a pulsating flow, however, passin over boiler heatin surface .is much less e cient, and a boiler eated with ases of thischaracter has less capacity t an one which is heated by the same amount of ases having a steady or substantially stea y flow. B

providing the pieces of material 22 whic are interposed between. the exhaust from the engine or engines and the heating surface of the boiler, the gases are distributed whilepassing through the spaces between the pieces of divided material, and the pulsating flow is converted into a stead or substantiall steady flow of gases, thereby increasing bot theefliciency and capacity of the boiler.

The balls or pieces of divided material not only create an even flow of gases, but they.

catch the oil, gum, and soot carried over by the exhaust gases from the internal combustion engine. It will be understood that in practice, a certain amount of unconsumed fuel oil may'sometimes be carried over with theproducts of combustion, and some lubricating oil is always carried over, and these materials are intercepted by the balls or pieces of divided material, thereby preventmg or minimizing their accumulation on the boiler heating surface, in the tubes in the embodiment illustrated.

The

pieces of material 22 may readily be cleanse by withdrawing 'them through the chute 49 and burning or otherwise remov- [ing the 'forelgn matter that has accumulated i v thereon, and they may then be ain introduced to the chamber 21 through the chute 46. Under some conditions, it may be desir-- able to remove or partially remove the deposit from the material 22 by blowing gases through the chamber 21.

The construction of the. boiler and associated parts illustrated in Fig. 4 is similar to that shown in Fi thatthe boiler is cylindrical in form and is surrounded by an annular space in which the pieces of divided material are received. The

same reference characters are applied in Fig. 4 to the same parts as those illustrated in Fi 3, and the same reference characters, wit small a appended, are applied'to arts in Fig. 4 whic are similar to those in ig. 3.

The operation of the device embodyin my invention will be readily be understood rom the foregoing description, and is as follows: When it is desiredto heat the boiler by exhaust gases from the internal combustion chamber alone, the oil burner 31 is removed and the cover 51 is seated against the top 5 of the extension 32. Both of the valves 39 and 40 are moved to their open osition as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, an the gases then pass from the exhaust pipe 12 throu h the passage 27, through the spaces between t e pieces of divided material 22 into the chamr 23 from which they tpass upwardly through the tubes 14 into e chamber 28, and through the passage 29 to the outlet flue 30. The gases passing between the pieces of divided material are converted from a pulsating flow to-a steady or substantially steady flow, thereby increasin the efiiciency and capacity of the boiler. t the same time, the pieces of divided material catch all or, a major portion of the foreign material, such as oil or soot, which are carried over by the exhaust ases, and prevents their being carried to the eating surface of the boiler. The noise of the exhaust due to its pulsations is reduced by the same means that makes the flow steady. By offsetting the boiler with relation to the exhaust plpe and the parts associated therewith, including the va ves and outlet flue, repairs are readily made, and space, which is always an im ortant consideration on vessels for which t e equi ment herein disclosed is particularly inten ed, is economized.

It will, of course, be understood that by opening the valves'39 to 40 in the positions shown in Figs. 3 and 4, either or both of the exhaust gases and the oil burner may be uti- 3, with the exception 1,ses,s1o

lized for heating the boiler, and by changing the positions of the valves, the proportions of heating gases from the two sources may be Ill varied as desired. 7

When it is desired to make repairs on the boiler, the valves 39 and 40 are closed as 1ndicated in Fig. 5, and the exhaust gases from the internal combustion engine or engines are entirely short circuited around the boiler and the boiler may be bodily removed if desired without interfering with the engine operation.

I claim:

1. In combination, a source of heated gases having a pulsating flow and carrying'impurities, a steam boiler of the fire tube typecomprising outer and inner shells and end tube sheets connecting the same, fire tubes connecting said tube sheets,'a mass of finely divided ieces of material located within said inner shell, a conduit comprising an inlet to the boiler for conducting the gases from said source through said material and then through the fire tubes, anda'n outlet throu h which the gases flow from said fire tubes, t e steam boiler being offset from said inlet and said outlet.

2. In combination, a source of heated gases having a pulsating flow and carrying im; purities, a steam boiler of the fire tube type comprising outer and innerjshells'and end tube sheets connecting the same, fire tubes connecting said tube sheets, a mass of finely divided pieces of material located-within said inner shell and means for conducting the gases from said source through said material and thence through said fire tubes, and

an outlet through which the gases may fiow 1 from said fire tubes, the inlet and the outlet for the gases to and from said boiler being located at the same end of the boiler, the boiler being offset from said inlet and said outlet.

3. In combination, a source of heated gases having a pulsating flow and carrying impurities, a steam boiler of the fire tube type comprising outer and inner spaced shells and end tube sheets connecting the same, fire tubes connecting said tube divided pieces of material located within said inner shell, means for conducting the gases from said source through said material and thence throu h the fire tubes, an outlet through whic the gases flow from said fire tubes, the inlet and the outlet for the gases to and from sa1d boiler being located at the same end of the boiler and in substantial alignment, and valve means associated with.

said inlet and said outlet for bypassing the gases around said boiler.

4; In combination, a source of heated gases having a pulsating flow and carrying impurities, a steam boiler of the fire tube type comprising outer and inner shells and end tube sheets connecting the same, fire tubes sheets, a mass of finely an oil fired furnace located at the same end of the b01161 as said inlet and said outlet, and means for conducting the gases from said oil fired furnace through said mass of finely divided ieces of material and over the heating sur ace of said boiler in the same path as the gases from said source.

5,. In combination, a source of heated gases hav ng a pulsating'flow and carrying impurities, a steam boiler, a conduit for conductmg gases from said source to said boiler, an outlet for the gases from said boiler located at the same end thereof as said inlet, sa d boiler being offset from said conduit and sa1d outlet, a mass of finely divided pieces of mater1al being interposed in the path of the gases between said source and said boiler and bounded by'the heating surface thereof and an 011 fired furnace located at the same end of the boiler as said outlet, the gases from by end tube sheets, fire tubes connecting said tube sheets, a mass of finely divided pieces of material located within said inner shell and a conduit for conducting the gases from said source through said piecesof material and thence through said fire tubes, an outlet through which the gases flow from said fire tubes, the steam boiler being offset from said outlet, and an oil fired furnace located at the same end of the boiler as the discharge end of sa d conduit and said outlet, the gases from sa d furnace flowing in the same path over said boiler heating surface as the gases from said source. 7

boiler being located at the same end thereof,

7. In combination, a source of heated gases having a pulsating flow and carrying impurities, a steam boiler of the fire tube type comprising outer and inner shells defining two spaces, end tube sheets closing one of said spaces and forming a water chamber, fire tubes connected to said tube sheets and passing through said water chamber, the other space forming a passage forthe gases, a mass of finely divided pieces of material located within the space forming a pass for the gases, the gases flowing through said mass of finely divided material and in a return pass through said tubes, and means whereby impurities 1n ties, a steam boiler of the fire tn K necting said tube sheets, a mass of finely dishell vided pieces of material located within said inner shell, a conduit comprising an inlet to the boiler for conducting gases from said source through said material and then through the fire tubes, an outlet through which the gases flow from said fire tubes, and 1 means whereby impurities in said mass of finely divided material may be withdrawn.

9. In combination, asource of heated gases having a pulsating flow and carr 'ng impurities, a steam boiler of the fire tu type comprising outer and inner shells and end tube sheets connecting the same, fire tubes connecting said tube sheets, a mass of finely divided ieces of material located within said inner shell, a conduit comprising an inlet to the boiler for conducting gases from said source through said material and. then through the fire tubes, an outlet through which the gases -flow from said fire tubes, a hopper located beneath said inner and outer shells and in which at least a portion of said pieces of material are located and means whereby impurities in said mass of finely divided material may be withdrawn from said hopper.

10. In combination with a source of heated gases having a pulsating flow and carrying impurities; a steam boiler comp and outer shells, a mass of pieces of heat resisting bodies positioned within the inner shell, means for conductin the heated gases to theinner shell so that t ey pass between said bodies and deposit their impurities thereon, means for maintaining water between the shells, and means for conducting the gases means located within the shell acting as a filter to remove impurities from the gases before they pass throu the fire tubes, a conduit comprising an in at to the shell for conducting the gsses from said source through said filter an t en through the fire tubes, an outlet through which the gases flow from said fire tubes, and an exhaust line leadin' from said source past the shell at one side t ereof and connected successively to the inlet and outlet at closely adjacent positions, the steam boiler being offset from said inlet and said outlet. a

. CHARLES E. LUCKE'.-

rising inner from the inner shell through the space between the shells so that they cause steam to be generated as they pass through that space.

11. In combination with a source of heated gases having a pulsatin flow and carrying impurities; a steam boi er installation comprising, a shell affording a passage for the gases, a mass of separate solids filling a part of the shell with the solids spaced sufiiciently to permit the passage of gases through the shell, means for directing the the shell so that their flow substantially loses its pulsating characteristic, a steam generator section embracing the shell, and means for directing the gases into contact with the generator section after they have passed through said mass of solids. g

12. In combination, a source of heated gases having a. pulsating flow and carrying impurities, a steam boiler including an outer and having fire tubes within the shell,

gases through s 

